Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-01-02
EN- slowly shaping itself out OF her re-

been slowly shaping itself out of her re-
Elections on the conversation of that morn
ing. 1t was possible that the perfect I'M
derstanding of higher life was only
reached from height still greater, and
that to those half way up the mountain
the summit was never rs truthtully re-
vealed rs to the humber dweller in the
valley.
| do not know that these profound truths
prevented her from gathering some quaint
ferns and berries, or from keeping her
calm gray eyes open TO certain practical
changes that were taking place around her.
She had noticed a singular thckening in
the atmosphere that seemed to prevent the
suns rays, yet without diminishing TIE
transparent quality of the air The dis
tant snow peaks were as plainly seen,
though they appeared as ii in moonlight.
| This seemed due to no cloud or mist, but
rather TO fading of the sun itself The
| occasional furry of wings overhead. the
whuling Of larger birds in the couer, and
Il frequent rustic i'll the underground, rs
OF the passage Of some stealthy animal,
began equally to attract her attention. 1t
was so different from the habitual silence
of these Eedate sOlitudeS. Kate had no
vague fear of wild beasts; she had been
long enough mOuntaineer to undertand
the general immunity enjoyed by the un-
mOlesting waytarer, and kept her way I'M
dismayed She was descending an abrupt
trail when she was stopped by sudden
crash in the bushes. 1t seemed to come
from the opposite incline. directly in
line with her, and apparently on the very
trail she was pursuing. The crash was
then repeated again and again lower down,
as of descending body. Expecting the
apparitOn Of some falling tree, or detached
bowlder bursting through the ticket, in
its way to the bottom of the gulch, she
waited. The foliage was suddenly brushed
aside, and large grizzly bear half rolled,
half waddled, into the trail on the Oppo-
site side of the hill A few moments more
would have brought them face to face at
the foot OF the gulch; when she stopped
there were not fifty yards between them.
She did not scream; she did not faint :;
she was not even frightened. There did
not seem to be anything terrifying in this
huge, stupid beast, who, arrested by the
rustic of stone displaced by her descend
ing feet, rose slowly on his launches and
gazed at her with small; wondering eyes
Nor did it seem strange to her, seeing that
he was III her way, to pick up stone,
throw it in his direction and say simply,
'ShO! get away as she would have
done to an intruding cow Nor did it
seem odd that he should actually 20
away" as he did, scramblng back into the
bushes again and disappearing like some
gTOteSque figure in a transformation scene.
1t was not until after he had gone that she
was taken with a slight nervousness and
giddinesS, and rctraced her steps somewhat
hurredly, shying little at every rustic
in the thickct. By the time she had
reached the great gateway she was doubt
full whether to be pleased or frightened ut
the incident, but she concluded to keep it
TO herself.
1t was still intensely cold. The light of
the midday sun had decreased still more,
and on reaching the plateau again she saw
that a cloud, not unlike the precursor of 4
thunder storm, was brooding over the
snowy peaks beyond. nspite Of the cold
this singular suggestion of summer pho
nomena was still horne ont by the distant
smiling valley, and even in the soft grasses
at her feet. 1t seemed to her the crown
ing inconsistency OF the climate, and with
a half serious, half playful protest on her
lips she hurried forward to seek the shelter
of the house